davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24

Tho snow was falling in great soft flakes
and lay thick upon the pavement, and SD"
bent before the wind as she made what has
.hc could. As she walked along she wondere
for a moment at the holiday aglect of tha
street, and then she suddenly remembered,
with iyicat pang, that it was Christmas
Eve. aud two sudden tears rolled from her
ewes and tricllcd slowly down her cold checks
Everybody she met, even in that poor loca
.tion, seemed to have something in their hands
toys, cheap GnG tlwjry it il true, but still
something TO BRING jos TO child's Eeart-buf
this poor little woman could buy nothing, not
even so much as a bit of candy, for stern
necessity had laid too strong hand upon this
desolate little family for the spending even
of one penny on anything but food, fuel and
rent. Choking back the unruly sobs that
would mount up the little woman at last
reached the butchers shop where she dealt,
when she had anything to buy with, and here
she bought soup bUne for ten cents, car
rot, a turnip and two potatoes for five cents
and then as the fat butchers fatter wife put
them in paper bag she slyly added two rosy
apples from barrel and two big red onions,
and the butcher being busy just then selling
fine turkey to the proprietor of boarding
house did not see it. =,
''For the babbies, ma'am, with my love"
said the jolly woman, "and wish itwas
more"
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN oLDEN VINE.

Heap on more wood. the wind is chill;
But let it whistle as il will;
Wen keep our Christmas merry stfn.
And well our Christian sires of old
Loved, when the year its course had rolled,
And brought blithe Christmas back again,
With all its hospitable train.
Domestic and religious rito
Gave honor to the holy night
On Christmas Eve the bells were ring;
On Christmas Eve the mass was sung;
That only night in all the year
Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.
The damsei donned her kirtle sheen;
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Forth to the wood did merry men go
To gather in the mistetoe. e..
Then opened wide the baron's hall
To vassal, tenant, serf and all:
Power laid his rod of rule aside,
And Ceremony doffed his pride; ...
The heir, with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose;
The lord underogating share
The vulgar game Of ''post and pair"
All hail with uncontrolled delight ."..
And general voice the happy night
That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tidings of salvation down.
Sir Walter Scott.
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
MOTHERS MENAGERIE.
BY OLIVE HARPER.

Some sixty years ago Madison street in
New York was one of the most aristocratic
streets in the city, and on both sides it was
built with stately stone mansions, with wide
halls, immense parlors and large handsome
rooms, and each had garden in the rear.
Now the wealthy old Quaker families who
once inhabited them are gone and the whole
street has degenerated until it is known as a
tenement house district,n and these old
houses are full of ragged, half starved chill
dren; pale wretched women, and gener-
ally honest but rough class of men. Every
house has family in every room, where
they eat work and sleep, and even where
there is the most sobriety there is still enough
of noise, unhealthiness and misery. In most
of them mems drunken curses and women
and childrens shrill screams are heard al
most hourly.
In the attic room of one of the hGndsomest
of these old houses there lived widow with
her two children, Ruth and Robert. No
words can picture the bare desolation of that
room, but in spite Of the bitter poverty so
apparent it was neat and clean. The young
mother was born in this house, as had been
her father, and though she now owned
nothing on earth but the wretched furniture
about her, and she could barely pay the rent
old house and here she staid. Her father had
died suddenly, as had his father before him,
and Abby, his only child, had married man
who was unworthy his trust and in short
time he had dissipated every dollar they
possessed and then had died, mercifully for
his wife and little children.
Abby Hicks had tried to earn living since
then, but with delicate health and two help
less babies she could not do much. Like the
great majority Of women, she had no resource
but her needle, and she found employ in a
shirt factory, and by shaving night and day
as long as her poor little hands could hold the
work, she managed to keep her children and
herself alive Their clothes were the last of
those of better days, and were almost falling
off them from sheer age, though the patient
little fingers had patched and darned them
over and over, and her heart sank as she
wondered where she could get more
Her grandfather mad been thrifty old man,
and everybody had supposed him rich; but
when he died it was found that this house
and few thousand dollars, which was at in
terest, was all he had, and it was never quite
understood; but no amount of searching in
papers or banks brought to light anything
more and the search was finally dropped
though the question was often discussed.
It grew too dark to sew and not quite dark
enough to light the lamp, and this hour the
little mother usually took to run out and dc
her marketing for the next day; and so tell
ing the children to lie still in bed, for it was
bitterly cold up there SO near the roof, sht
took her threadbare shawl, and throwing II
around her started out.
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING.

From the shelf hang suspended
In the flrelight glow, distended
Till my sides are almost split with everything
that's good;
I'm so full that it's question
If l don't have indigestion
Never yet was / SO stuffed with such peculiar
food.
In my toe (oh, goodness graciousi
l declare it is vexatious)
Some ones put big potato and it makes me feel
so strange;
Iwonder, now, what made them do it.
Do you know that right next to it
They have put q lot Of candy-something sweeter
for a changei
Then bank to save up money,
And man that acts go funny
When you pull him sharply by his stringy hemren
tail;
picture book, some small tin fishes
And set of little dishes;
Pair of mittens, popcorn and little wooden pail.
Then on top piece of paper,
Isn't this funny caperl
Perhaps they want to burden me with sone new
tangled dish.
Let me try my best to con it,
Why, this is what they've written on 1t:
MAY you have merry Christmas is my hearty
wish" Tom Mason
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
The Power of the Press.

A few months since the EDery EUening by
a Coup De at known only to an enterprisiDg
newspaper Office captured large number Of
policy writers of this city aud very material
ly dsorganiz, ID the policy business. The
EUsry Eoentng having doueits work we'll in
that line turned it's horoscope in the direction
of the Grand Central Theatre, and the fuslad-
ing OF that paper was such that the proprie-
tors of the theatre declined to ask for re-
newal of their licence feeling assured in ad-
vance, that the Count would not grant it.
But comparatively few of our citizens re-
allied what den of vice the Water Street
Establishment" was until the expose made
by the E0eTy E0entng and this comm unity
at large ID under obligati-ns to it for the win
ming fight it made in ridd:ng Front street
of moral pest house.
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
ON THE RAPPAHANN0CK.
CHRISTMAS DAY, 1862.


By John r, Paxton, Private Company g, 140th
Pennsylvania Volunteers.
There was my old comrade, Sergt. Nelson,
who had gathered somewhat of evil in the
army, whose Christian virtues We're not
highly polished, and who, on occasion,
dropped into profanity as Wegg did into
poetry. Now wonder which Nelson God
will keep, and which Nelson he will throw
away-the rough soldier, or the man at Cold
Harbor who said, "Boys, do you hear Bebout
and Stone calling our names and begging for
waterg' We left them at the foot of the hill
wounded that afternoon when we charged
md were repulsed. Boys, its mighty
risky. There is no truce tonight and them
rcbs shoot about as fine by starlight as by
day. But I'm going out to them You see,
if you and / were lying over there with hole
through us and we called for water and no
one come, though you heard us, we would
cu1,5a YOU ALL Who will 60 with me" II,
sorgeantn "And II They went, and two
Of them were killed wonder which Nelson
God will keep, which throw away-the Mel
son who was no saiit, or the Nelson who
died for man, like Jesus Christi
/ wonder which man is mo and which Will
come to the front and be on top at Judgment:
this me in the study here, with an open Bible
before him, who fatty contradicts the other
me, who shivered with cold on the Rappa-
hanloc!: twenty-five years ago.
1t is such funny world! You and l load
our friends down with our aches and misfor-
tunes and troubles, but when rich old uncle
dies and leaves us half million, we do not
load that on them. Oh, no. But here am
preaching, so strong is habit. Yet which is
moths gentle, meek, apologetic clergyman,
or that other me of n quarter of century
ago. that other mo who wore that faded blue
roundabout hanging on my study wall, with
n lieutenant's shoulder straps on it, who wore
that sword and belt there before my eyes.
Which is me--this man acquainted with
rleesness and piety and aims and grief, or
that mo Of the sword and brass buttoned
Jacket on the wall, who was acquainted with
war, deviltries, death, reckless daring, loves
young dreaml Here happy thought strikes
me- to try on that soldiers jacket and buckle
on again that sword, am going to get into
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24

Abby Hicks stood a moment irTesolute,
with the red spots of shame burning in her
cheeks, for never before had she accepted a
gift, and yet her heart was glad for her
children and lighter for the womanly sympa-
thy which she felt had actuated this meager
gift
"Thank you," was all she could trust her
self to say, and she hurried away, and from
there she went to the little corner grocery
where her wants were supplied when accom-
panied by cash. Here she bought i've cant
loaf and a pail of coal.
"Nothing else2" asked the grocer's clerk
eve have some fine turkeys and cranberries:
chickens, too, first rate Philadelphia dry
picked; raisins, apples, jellies, celery-nothing
at alll'
"No, thank you," said Abby, hurrying
away.
The coal had taken her last cent She got
out again into the street on her way back
and hurried onward, only anxious to get
back to where she could weep her heart out
in her woe, for where is an agony keener for
mother than to deprive her children of the
joy that is rightfully theirs on Christmas
dayl Dear little Robbiei He would hear
the other children blowing their tin triiIn-
pets and beating their drums, and his sturdy
little heart had always desired one and the
other by turns And good, gentle Ruthiel
How her motherly soul had longed for real
doll Not the old rag doll, but real one,
with fair hair and blue eyes. And this
mother had promised long ago that she
would write a long letter to Santa Claus and
tell him what good little children they were,
and now they would grieve over his neglect
What should she dol She had nothing to
sell that they could by any possibility spare
Everything had been sold long ago that
could bring anything at all; and now, to add
to her despair, huckster's wagon, loaded
with cheap toys, stopped just in front of her,
and the strong lunged hucksters began cry
ing out their wares. Again she quickened
her pace, and went on blindly up the stairs to
her miserable home, all the while her heart
nearly bursting with its agony as memory
pictured this home as it had been only ten
short years ago. Yes, on this very anniver-
sary, and she dressed in white satin, with
pearls and beautiful laces, was the envied.
beauty of the great ball. Where now were
all those brilliant lights, the flowers, the SER
wants, her sweet faced mother and noble
fathpr3
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24

Gan right; you shall haye some of our
coffee and sugar and pork. Boys, find the
boats.h
Such boatsl / see the children sailing them
on the small lakes in our Central Park. Some
Yankee desperately hungry for tobacco, in
vented them for trading with the Johnnies.
They were hid away under the banks OF the
river for successive relays of pickets
We got out the boats An old handkerchief
answered for sail. We loaded them with
coffee sugar, pork, and set the sail, and
watched them slowly creep to the other shore.
And the Johnniesl To see them crowd the
bank, and push and scramble to be first to
seize the boats, going into the water, and
stretching out their long armsl Then when
they pulled the boats ashore, and stood in
group over the cargo, and TO hear their ex-
CARNATIONS, "Hurrah for hogp "Say, that's
not roasted rye, but genuine coffee. Smell
it, YOU uns" ''And sugar, too" Then they
divided the consignment They laughed and
shouted, 'Reckon you uns been good to we
uils this Christmas Day, Yankz" Then they
put parched corr, tobacco, ripe persimmons,
into the boats, and sent them back to us.
And we chewed the parched corn, smoked
real Virginia leaf, ate persimmons, which, If
theT werea't very flling, at least contracted
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
.I3.. ..aH LI
Our Streets "!

As many of our steets are not only danger
GUS to vehicular ffic but almost impass'-
BILE, 1T would be well for the street Commits
ioners to advertise IN the daily papers what
streets can be used with reasonable degree
of safety and as there are but few streets
coming within the limit of safety the expense
would lie but triiiDg consideration. "
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE.
How Christmas Day is Celebrated in
Those States.

How Christmas Day is Celebrated in
Those States.
Christmas day is not only the most widely
and universally observed holiday in the
Christian calendar, but it is also susceptible
Of a greater variety Of Observance than per-
haps any other holiday. Santa Claus and
the Christmas tree are known and loved OF
all children. In Kentucky and other south
ern states the day is ushered in with a gum
powder accompaniment In the north the
Fourth Of July is made horrible by the boom
ing of cannon and the rattle Of firecrackers.
In the south these are reserved for Christ
mas morning. Among the country and viii
lage population Christmas is the occasion of
a general turnout in fields and woods with
guns and dogs. On that day Of all days do
the rabbits, squirrels and quail find them
selves pursued by about every man and boy,
both white and colored, who owns or can
borrow an old shotgun, blunderbuss or shoot
ing iron of any kind, and the fields and
woods resound from morn till night with the
echoes of exploding gunpowder as the hunt
ers stalk up the hapless game. The dogs
lend their quota to the days noise and eX-
citement, baying on the trail of frightened
foxes and rabhit2.
laws in the early days of the states existence
recognized the merit of Workmanship, and
to encourage this accomplishment enacted a
law exempting wagers on craftsmanship
from the general penalties against other
species of gambling. So that the men of a
village or farm community may congregate
and put up money, a quarter of beef or a
turkey, as the prize to be carried off by the
best shot The target is often the top of a
paper cap box about as large in diameter as
silver quarter, and the distance ranges
from twenty-five to 100 steps. The guns
used are long single barrel muzzle loading
rifles II the match is to be shot off hand
resting the gun against the shoulder with
out rest the distance is seldom greater
than twenty-five PAGES, and even at that dis
tance the bullets are often punched from {
dozen rifles into a space which can bA coveret
with silver dollar,
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
PRICE TWO.CENTS

These rife shooting matches are now
largely reserved for the Christmas day, and
are looked forward to all the year round. On
these occasions all the young men who boast
of their ability to 'scut the bulls eye three
times out of five" gather to banter and takr
the conceit out of such as think themselves
crack shots.
Christmas night is largely given No to
afiddlin' and dancin' in tho homes of tho
hospitable backwoods gouthrons, and even in
the towns and villages it is very comnnnm
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24

But, though she had found this treasure,
and she knew it was her own in all right, she
was too sensible u little woman to bruit the
news about, and so they sat down to their
Christmas dinner of soup made out of a
whole menagerie, and up to this day, though
she lives in different way now, the lawyers
never got wind of her inheritance nor share
in it. Robbie and Ruthie have pretty toys,
but probably none of them have ever been
quite as dear to their little hearts as the
strange animals their mothers breaking
heart wrought out for their pleasure.
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24

our stomachs to the size Of our Christmas
dinner And SO the day passed. We shouted,
stMerry Christmas, Johnny" They shouted,
"Same to you, Yank.n And we forgot the
biting wind, the chilling cold; we forgot
those men over there were our enemies
whom it might be our duty to shoot before
evening
We had bridged the river-spanned the
bloody chasln. We were brothers. not foes,
waving salutations of good will in the name
of the Babe of Bethlehem, on Christmas Day,
ir '62. At the very front of the opposing
armies the Christ Child struck a truce for US
broke down the wall of partition, became
our peace We exchanged gifts We shouted
greetings back and forth. We kept Christ
mas, and our hearts were lighter for it and
our shivering bodies were not quite so cold.
Go thou and do likewise; push no poor debtor,
prosecute no quarrel, bear no grudge, at
Christmas time; forgive your enemies, re-
member your mercies and do not brood over
your misfortunes, at Christmas time. If the
times are hard do not let the children know
it, or Lazarus on your doorstep become
aware of it, at Christmas time. to his deeper
despair. Cannot you be cheerful and brave
by your firesides, as we soldiers were on the
Rappahannock on Christmas Day in '62,
shouting good wills to rebels on the opposite
shorel Let us all shake hands on Christmas
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
CHRISTMAS THE HAPPIEsT.

Among all our holidays Christmas is the
happiest. Other days, like the Fourth Of
July and Decoration Day, have a patriotic
association which is inspiring, and New
Years Day has an admonitory significance
which is pathetic. But the tradition of
Christmas is more universal and ideal than
that of other holidays, because it is the feast
of fraternity, of human sympathy and help
fulness Not only is its sentiment glory to
God, but its distinctive gospel is peace on
earth and good will to man. It is the one
day in the year on which selfishness is the
most odious sin. Its peculiar observance is
obvious, palpable, active thought of others.
We all live under the general law of charity
and of doing good But this is the day on
which we must make sure that our light
shines SO that men shall see our good works.
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24

that jacket. SO faded, SO small for me now; /
am going to buckle on that sword, if it
does compel crowding, bad language rebel
lion, pains, and being carried off the field
swooning, as some ladies are betimes, because
of the uproar and rage of the ineommoded
guests within. Well, it happened on this wise
that found myself shivering on the banks
of the Rappahannock on Christmas Day,
1862, enlisted for three years or during the
war. food for Sillainons saltpeter
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
CHRISTMAS CAROL.

There's story olden, golden,
Laden with the sweetest peace,
OF stranger in a manger,
Couched on autumn's rich increase,
Robed not In sable, for stable,
With its rude and dust clad walls,
Formed a shelter, where did swelter
Cattle in their stihed stalls.
Then from heavens azure riven,
Blazed star of radiance bright;
Glorious, victorious,
1t paled the other stars of night.
Then 1t glimmered, cleaned and shimmered,
Der the town of Bethlehem;
And brighter, nearer, richer, clearer,
Burned the star of glory then.
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24

Above the stables pointed gables ..
Did that star of heaven stand; 49,.
While adoring, wealth outpouring,
Knelt the men from Judah's land =
Softly saying mid their praying,
While their eyes with tears were dim,
From afar we've seen his star,
And have come 10 worship himl
Then came winging, sweetly singing,
Hosts on hosts Of cherubim,
"Glory, glory, hear the storyl
Peace on earth, good will to menl"
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24

We have cne of the largest and hand
soonest line of Mems Embroidered Fancy
leather slipper in the city.
Boston House 304..Market Street,
Henry PIKE Piop.
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24
PERSONAL.

MIR. B. F. Furry Of the Po,pcise Leather
Co., has returned home to spend his Christ
mas with his family. He reports the wol ks
in fiue cond tion, the catch up to the average,
The weather at Hatteras has been wet and
windy, sea quite rough but they have had
no snow.
The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-24

Col JJbD Wainwright is spending his
Christmas Holidays with his family. He
arriued from HatteFas on Wednesday morn
Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-07-17
An UxCozPoRTABLE BLANKET.


lAAfefte @fo+N-@ 1KfNes
A few evenings since Mr.. Jefferson,
Who keeps G saloon a. Glenbrook, was
out bathing 10 the lake when some.
thing suddenly wrapped about him like
q vet blanket. he vas close 10 shore,
and got there pretty lively. When he
climbed up the wharf the blanket, a. IL
appeared 20 be, vas all wrapped about
him In Q queer vay. He rushed into
the saloon, where there vas light. and
vss heErifed 10 discover thai the thing
Which vas wrapped around him vas
alive. Il hsld on with terrific suction.
and required several men 70 get IL on.
A scientist Who vas stopping at The
hotel pronounced 70 tha eiactys eaeyr-
thias, OF what IL valgafly known e the
blsnkes hsh. Il frsqaeuts the waters
OF tbs Polar sea, and q only occasion
aIly fozna ID fresh water, except deep
cool lakes, and generally stays near toe
bottom. Il is sometimes found 10 tbs
Pacific ocean as lov a. the 3Ssh parallel.
Il wraps sFoand iia victim, and By i'm
pedina TIE motion Of is limbs causes 10
10 drown. Is ID dARk brown In color,
With black speeks and weighs about
twenty Eve poands. When stretehed
out on the vi bart u vas sbsas SIX feet
lSaa By Ave broad, and not over an
inoh think. u vas an ohiee4 Of curl
oaiag al DAY. and q nov On e1hibttto1
10 tie sasoan- Nj. Emery, The Htags
driver, says be saw Jedesson when be
came ouf e he water, and tkouRht be
vas wrappgd % In o biekst. This Il
The hrsi ever aSraes n this section q
ne worla.